Your Ebike Is NOT Saving You Money

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  • Опубліковано 27 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 65

  • @kjohns1413
    @kjohns1413 Рік тому +1

    My e-bikes have saved me significant amount of money.

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому

      Mind sharing the numbers? You’ve already stated more than one ebike. With one rider not being able to ride both at the same time, you’ve already doubled the number of dollars you’d have to save just to break even. My guess is savings from parking? Certainly not gas. Unless you’re one of the folks who thinks they’re saving $0.50 a mile from a car from west and tear which is definitely a myth.

    • @kjohns1413
      @kjohns1413 Рік тому

      @@Funcentric All my ebikes are DIY ebikeling kits, UPP batteries. About $500 invested in each bike assuming they dont blow up, that was three years ago. I do about 6000 miles on ebike a year since then. Everything still works fine, I get clearence Kenda tires when on sale for $10 each. Not sure the cost of charging. Been able to take off car insurance on 1of 4 vehicles for summer, my kid can get to work on the other and not have to purchase another car. Also keeping one of my cars under the warranty time, which is huge in my book. That could be the difference of a $5000 engine. Hopeing the federal ebike grant thing goes through, I'll be getting another bike pre-built and retire one or more diy ebikes.

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому

      @@kjohns1413 congrats. You’re one of the few. Most people aren’t like us to build DIY bikes.

    • @kjohns1413
      @kjohns1413 Рік тому

      @@Funcentric The $6k emtb maybe hard to justify. Unless it's to my wife haha.
      Thx for keeping its real with these lectric bikes and the seats and stuff. Tok many videos online showing these are perfect bikes out of the box and they aren't.

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому +2

      @@kjohns1413 yeah, they’re all ads disguised as reviews. I hate that. No comparison videos out there because the UA-camrs wanna keep being buddy buddy with all the manufacturers.

  • @SilhouetteLifter
    @SilhouetteLifter Рік тому +1

    Parking at my job costs $9/day. My work will also pay you $3/day to bike to work. So that's a flat $12/day before gas. My commute is about 9 miles round trip every day, and biking is nearly as fast as driving. I also live in a climate where I should be able to bike almost every day. Let's say I work 245 days a year, that's already $2,940 in savings/year before gas. and that's not even accounting for non-commute uses of my E-Bike. My bike cost $1,400.

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому

      Awesome! Yeah, parking can be a killer.

  • @family77866
    @family77866 9 місяців тому

    One repair bill for my car would probably pay for the repairs on my ebike for a year or two at a minimum. Tires for my ebike cost less than half of one tire on most cars.
    Cars also have accessories just like ebikes. They also need insurance. So far ebikes don't. That could change if insurance companies lose too much money.
    Owning a car in Ohio costs an average of $4200 a year. I bought an ebike outright this year. I am pretty sure I wont hit that mark even with the purchase of the bike.
    Do I need a car? Yes. I live in a rural area and my wife and I have doctor's appointments that sometimes are an hour and a half away but that's not every day. If I need things in town like groceries, even doctor visits can be done locally so I can ride my bike. I could eliminate many trips and maybe drive my car one or two days a week that would save fuel cost. It could well eliminate the need for a second vehicle. We will see as time goes by.
    Then there are the health benefits. With increased health comes decreased medical costs. This is just my 2 cents😎 12:32

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  9 місяців тому

      If you’ré frequently but not long distances, consider that fuel costs and maintenance costs aren’t that high to begin with. It sounds like you may do better with a ride share when you need to go somewhere and not own a car at all. If that’s the case, you’ll surely save money. But that’s also a car replacement situation. Most people won’t be replacing their car with a bike.
      Consider that the cost of a car generally doesn’t change much even when not being used. It’s the ownership that builds up the cost. Insurance and finance/lease payments that happen regardless of whether the car is driven or not. Registration too.

  • @jareddeemee8582
    @jareddeemee8582 Рік тому +7

    I think e-bikes are getting hugely adopted by people who can’t afford a car though. The average new vehicle cost has hit what… $48,000 according to Kelly blue book? I’m one of those people who can’t drop 30k on a car, I can’t afford those monthly payments with rent these days and I’ve bought 5k cars before. I end up spending 2k on repairs/new parts every few months. I just can’t do it.
    I’ll let you know how many years it takes for my ebike maintenance to hit 30k

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому

      Yeah I suppose with care share services these days and high cost of living, a lot of people are getting away with not having to own a car. Stand up scooters used to get people through their last mile but even those are starting to get a lot of power and range to take on a full commute.
      A lot of benefit of standup scooters these days but they seem pricey to people by comparison to an ebike probably because of the physical size difference.
      For purely commute, e scooters these days are probably a better solution than e-bikes.

    • @Overcomer2024
      @Overcomer2024 Рік тому +3

      This is a good point that you bring up. I was trying to decide if I should buy a 5k car, but I'm so scared of the potential repairs. I can't afford more than that right now. I was thinking that I could buy an ebike and learn how to maintain it and I will still be better off than trying my luck with a 5k car. I still will use ubers, walking and busses for most things. But I was thinking, an ebike would give me a sense of freedom without the risks and costs of buying a car.

    • @bigguy1403
      @bigguy1403 7 місяців тому

      ​@Overcomer2024 just get a brand new ebike

  • @abbe1abbe156
    @abbe1abbe156 Рік тому +2

    I spend around $400 each week on uber, sometimes more, so the bike is a money saver for me.

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому +1

      Yes, you’re definitely saving money. But wow you have a big Uber budget.

    • @abbe1abbe156
      @abbe1abbe156 Рік тому +1

      @@Funcentric 😄 Our books budget is larget than the Uber. NYC is unfortunately expensive, but it's easier to take Uber to activities necause we would spend more for parking or parking tickets. We have two young children abd we avoid public transportarion for safety reasons.

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому +1

      @@abbe1abbe156 makes sense.

  • @Kelsonian_Institute
    @Kelsonian_Institute Рік тому +5

    It depends on use, I do DoorDash and other gig apps and probably put 30+ miles a day, so I think I can safely say between insurance, gas and maintenance on a car, I am absolutely saving money. I used to commute to my old job and the grocery store on my bike and would be willing to bet that was still saving me money vs driving a car, especially my 1990 SUV that I had then. But yes, I don't think many people think about all these things when making a decision to buy a bike.

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому +1

      Most people aren’t paying insurance by the mile and are paying full insurance rates on their car whether they have a bike or not. I’m suspecting you truly are replacing your car. No ownership ownership of car at all, right?

    • @Jarrod_D
      @Jarrod_D Рік тому

      I deliver instacart with a motorized bicycle 🚴💨
      My bike doesn't have a limited range 😅 and you couldn't buy a used car for the cost of it .
      I was dashing with it in the spring and doing over a hundred miles a day .

  • @Mark-qv4bn
    @Mark-qv4bn 2 місяці тому

    At almost 67, I recently decided to donate my truck to a Veterans charity. I have 3 ebikes that I ride almost daily. I dont feel comfortable driving my truck anymore. It wasnt the cost, Insurance was $26 a month, and I paid cash for it in 2011. I realized my motor skills and awareness is diminished. Last year, I parked my truck for 9 months and just rode my ebikes until winter.

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  2 місяці тому

      @@Mark-qv4bn nice! Glad you’re enjoying the new chapter in your life. As an actual replacement for a car which is rare, you definitely ARE saving money. Better health too I presume. Ride safe and enjoy!

  • @raulh7814
    @raulh7814 Рік тому +2

    We’re two in our home. One vehicle only. $2k for my ebike saved me against a few thousand dollars in a used vehicle plus registration, maintenance, insurance and gas…

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому +1

      Thanks for your feedback but aren’t you limited in miles that you can ride to actually replace miles by car? I feel like I can’t ride more than 30mi a day and that seems like a lot. Most bikes don’t even have enough range to really ride that far.
      Unless the bike is truly replacing the car, you’d be paying for the car, maintenance, insurance anyway. Particularly insurance unless you have one of those by-the-mile insurance rates.
      Surely the cost of owning a car is higher but that doesn’t necessarily mean that a bike is saving money. Savings need to add up to $2k in the bike cost before actually seeing any savings unless you’re on a payment plan with the bike.
      Am I missing something?

    • @raulh7814
      @raulh7814 Рік тому

      @@Funcentric yes, you are right, but I either buy another car or this lectric xpedition and if I do need the car for longer, more involved trips I can rely on our one and only 4runner vehicle. An ebike for short trips, errands, freedom to visit the park while my wife is working and commuting is a good fix. :)

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому

      @@raulh7814 perfect combination.

  • @artimustrieste1480
    @artimustrieste1480 11 місяців тому +1

    Yo, yo, yo! @Funcentric SHHHhhh! Now your goning to have THE MAN coming down on all of us with Ebike ROAD TAXES, BATTERY TAXES, CHARGE TAXES, etc. Don't worry yourself about it, they'll come up with more than I can (safety requirements & like extra human carbon tax, lol) off the cuff for sure. BTW: I truly enjoy & benefit from the time you take thoughtfully putting together insightful information having to do with this new fangled form of "transportation" & what I'd say is more oft than not just another way to have good clean fun for you, family & all. THANKS 😉

    • @artimustrieste1480
      @artimustrieste1480 11 місяців тому

      @Funcentrics , Your insights save the laymen money, foibles, & time. Huge Pat-On-The-Back.

  • @StevenLawrenceHeston
    @StevenLawrenceHeston 4 місяці тому

    Car reimbursement is $.67/mile. Don't finance at high interest rates! A 4-year payback is a great 25% return! Bikes save money on short trips, but cars save valuable time on long trips. An Ebike is cheaper than a second car + gas + insurance + parking + maintenance.

  • @hjeffwallace
    @hjeffwallace Рік тому +2

    I sold a minivan for $3500, and rode a $200 trek mtb to work for a year. (The insurance alone would buy a better bike.)
    After a year, I added a $400 Ebike conversion kit. That was 3 years ago, and deleting insurance, fuel, maintenance, registration, etc is enormous!
    But it pales in comparison to the pure fun an Ebike gives. I have built 5, and can’t bring myself to sell one. I ride a different one every day, to keep them tuned, so any of my family can just hop on and ride!

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому +1

      That’s awesome. I had a similar addiction with rc cars. Family and friends are big enough fans to get Theo own so I share.
      I’ve got an ebike conversion from 14 years ago that I recently overvolted from 36v to 48v and it was a nice improvement.
      You saved tons with the sale of the mini van and purchase of the bike! Yeah insurance can be crazy. Crazy good savings for you luckily.
      Ride safe!

  • @StevenLawrenceHeston
    @StevenLawrenceHeston 4 місяці тому

    Car insurance is $100-$200 per month. Replacing a car (or second car) pays for an ebike within one year! What is the point of financing a bike? The loan offsets your extra money in the bank. Loan payments then lower your savings, and you end up behind.

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  4 місяці тому

      A vast majority of people aren't using bicycles to replace cars. They own the car anyway and buy a bike in addition. So the insurance costs aren't changing by getting a bike.

  • @Jarrod_D
    @Jarrod_D Рік тому +1

    Thanks for the great conversation 👍
    I designed my own motorized bicycle, so simple a cave man could do it.
    No fake peddling required.
    Re charges in about 40 seconds , goes about 55 miles per tank no matter the terrain. Cost about 120 dollars and works on any bicycle with a seatpost .
    I put several hundred miles a week on my build delivering INSTACART.
    I posted a video of me buying, building, and paying for itself in 2 days .

  • @darrylphillips6301
    @darrylphillips6301 Рік тому

    Definitely am saving money, car insurance is high, parking in Chicago is high, ubers are high, repairs on a car are much higher even brakes. So u definitely do save money with ebikes especially coming from a V8 Tahoe.

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому

      Only if it’d a replacement which isn’t what I’m talking about in the video. All those expenses you gave as an example of car costs happen whether you are driving the car or not, particularly insurance. A bike just adds to more expenses that need to be recovered. Seems like you may not have actually watched the video. Are you commenting just on the video title?

    • @darrylphillips6301
      @darrylphillips6301 Рік тому

      @@Funcentric dude regardless if it's a replacement or not, using an ebike is putting much less wear and tear than on a car which is far more expensive regardless of the insurance am paying. Way too many expenses with a car... point is ur not just paying for a ebike it's an investment on cheaper commuting even if still have a car. I mean I guess u can look at an ebike as an extra expense but it's more of an investment than anything bc it prolongs the life of other transportation and expenses with Ubers etc...much easier to deal with a bike than a car. The money saved riding ur bike can pay for the same expenses on a car I would have been paying without it.

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому +1

      @@darrylphillips6301 I see what you’re saying and it makes sense but if you calculate how long it would take to recoup the cost of the bike itself, you may be surprised.

  • @teddybetts3254
    @teddybetts3254 7 місяців тому

    Sad but true.
    I bought an E bike for $1,500, but put about $2,300 into it so far with repairs, spare parts and a new battery. I put about just over 5,000 miles on the bike.
    With gas prices of about $3+ where I live (car gets about 26MPG), it came out to about $600 in savings.😢

    • @StevenLawrenceHeston
      @StevenLawrenceHeston 4 місяці тому

      Automobile reimbursement ratess are $.67/mile to cover gas, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation. That is $3,350 of savings. You are only 672 miles from break-even, and still have the bike!

  • @Mad4saxBrewery
    @Mad4saxBrewery Рік тому

    How do I calculate my savings. I drive a Tesla it cost me to charge it off peak 2 cents per kWh. Special night time rates. So how long or how many miles by riding my eBike to start saving money?? 🤪🤪🤪

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому

      $0.02? Where do you live! Mine is $0.53 on peak and $0.36 offpeak.
      Depends on the cost of your ebike and how often you ride it. A lot of variables.

    • @Mad4saxBrewery
      @Mad4saxBrewery Рік тому

      I live in Upstate NY. It is a special rate for BEV over night charging. I am retired and bought an ebike strictly for fun. Like my many RC cars are just for fun. LOL

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому

      @@Mad4saxBrewery wow, that’s awesome!

  • @danwoods8195
    @danwoods8195 6 місяців тому

    "if you own a car" that's why you aren't saving money right there :)

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  6 місяців тому +1

      Of course. Yeah because rarely does someone ever really replace a primary car with a bicycle. If it happens, it’s usually in place of a secondary vehicle. I’m speaking to most people’s situation of course - not everyone. I’m sure there’s a couple people out there who decide a bicycle is sufficient over a car for 100% of their needs. It’s no secret that in some cities like NY or HK, most people don’t even own a car.

    • @danwoods8195
      @danwoods8195 6 місяців тому +1

      @@Funcentric all important things to keep in mind for sure. not everyone has the option to not have a car, I just like to leave snarky comments sometimes-- I understand it's impossible for some ppl to be without cars-- I'm just a vocal minority ignore me and thank you for the videos :)

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  6 місяців тому

      @@danwoods8195 Yeah, I totally get it. Everyone's got their own situation to handle. We do best with what we've got.

  • @coopermine1047
    @coopermine1047 Рік тому

    Interesting video. I have 10K miles on ebikes over the last 3 years. My thoughts:
    My commuter ebike is worn out after 10K miles. Amortized cost for this $1500 bike is 0.15/mile.
    Battery charge is pretty limited after 5000 miles. 800Wh battery is $600. Amortized cost is 0.06/mile.
    Maintenance has totaled about $600. $0.06/mile.
    Electricity is 0.01/mile (California).
    Total cost to commute by ebike: $0.28/mile. Total cost to drive my Honda Fit has been $0.35/mile. Ebike is a little cheaper, but not by a lot.

    • @awelsh39
      @awelsh39 Рік тому +5

      What about gas, insurance, registration and maintenance?

  • @steveshea7725
    @steveshea7725 Рік тому

    I estimate depreciation on my battery of about 33 cents per full charge and electricity is about 11cents where I live. That's 0.44 per 25 miles netting a gain of 2.50 per 25 miles At 7000 miles a year, That comes up to 700 dollars a year compared to gas which means I can buy a new ebike after 2 years. Which is what I usually do rather than replace the battery and keep the old one going. Heh.
    The cheapest ebike to run is probably a 20" mini fatty hub motor bike that you put moped tires on. ( you can do that with that size rim). One moped tire costs like $50 and will outlast like 3 regular bike tires.

  • @ChuxDiaz
    @ChuxDiaz Рік тому

    I have one e-bike that I bought used on OfferUp, I only use it to go to work or to run errands at the store. It's one of those fat tire electric heat bikes so I'm not taking it out for a spin on the weekends and I'm not climbing any biking trails with it strictly commuting. 1000 Miles later I say yeah I absolutely saved money. No insurance, No gas, no parking permit.
    I'll be honest I did have to spend money on a good helmet some decent gear and two tubes because out of a thousand miles I have gotten two flat tires. I'd say my total cost has been $1,225.
    Even if gas was $3 a gallon after a thousand miles that's about $100 ( not much there )
    The real savings is the $45 parking fee a week because before I would carpool with someone else and we would take turns eating the $45 parking fee
    I'd say absolutely yes I've saved the money and you are totally wrong my friend.
    I'd say The bike already paid itself off and I'm net positive about $250

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому

      Glad you’re doing well but based on what you’ve said, it sounds like you didn’t really watch the video.
      Of course, each youth case is going to be unique. You did mention registration and insurance for your car. Those would be paid regardless of whether you owned a bicycle or not so those do not really count as expenses that you’re saving.

    • @ChuxDiaz
      @ChuxDiaz Рік тому

      @@Funcentric " those get paid regardless" by who? Oh that's right us!
      Another cost but I see what you're saying but that's why I didn't count insurance or registration in my original comment.
      Gas and parking alone have saved me money.
      What my ebike has allowed me to do is avoid buying a car.

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому

      ​@@ChuxDiaz If you didn't watch the video, your comments aren't relevant. I addressed the parking also making payments on the bike or getting it for discount. I'd suggest that to know who you're talking to, that you watch the video you're commenting about rather than just reading the title and being so quick to assume what you don't yet know.

    • @ChuxDiaz
      @ChuxDiaz Рік тому

      @@Funcentric so then you should change your title to sometimes e-bikes aren't worth it otherwise this is clickbait homie

    • @Funcentric
      @Funcentric  Рік тому

      @@ChuxDiaz it’s not clickbait because I’ve addressed the topics you talked about in the video. You just didn’t bother to watch it and commented based on assumptions you made.
      This is not a monetized channel nor am I sponsored by any ebike company. So whether you watch it or not makes no difference to me. Good luck on the bike. Ride safe.

  • @AKCobra1120
    @AKCobra1120 Рік тому +2

    Spot on. Buy an ebike for fitness or fun. Any money you might save on gas is just a little bonus.